Nothing is yet to match the Pasha Bulka storm

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The devastation the 2007 Pasha Bulker storm left behind is yet to be matched after nine lives were lost and well over $1 billion worth of damage was caused.

The 40,000 tonne Panamanian vessel played a part in many people's lives Friday 8th June 10 years ago, including Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Glen Ramplin who played a big part in bringing 22 crewmen off the Pasha Bulker to shore.

Image Dave Barnett

At first, Glen thought it was a joke when the former president of Nobbys Surf Life Saving Club rang him to say there was a bulk carrier headed straight for the beach, but then the rescue helicopter's phones started ringing off the hook with the same situation.

Before he knew it Glen and his crew were in a helicopter looking straight at a big red ship which you could've been mistaken for thinking was parked in the centre of the city.

Glen couldn't thank his crew enough for having his back while he helped crewmen off the deck of the Pasha Bulker in what were almost cyclonic conditions in the smaller of the two rescue helicopters after the Bell 142 chopper was diverted from the ship to Clarencetown where local couple Bob and Linda Jones had been swept away.

"I've never experienced the wind the way it was, it was gusting over 100km/hr and made it quite difficult for the pilot to maintain his hover above the ship because of the wind gusting and the fact that the ship was still moving around and because we had to walk through an oil spill on the actual deck so once we were up on the hatch cover it was, I described it like being on an ice skating rink," said Glen.

 Video courtesy Dave Barnett

Former Lord Mayor of Newcastle John Tate says the gravity of the situation really didn't sink in until the weekend when flood waters started to take over parts of the city.

"We weren't aware of how bad it was going to be but then, of course, the next day and overnight we were very much aware that severe flooding had taken place particularly in Wallsend and certainly other locations in the city area, in the middle suburbs and that became a  concern - people's lives were at risk, cars were strewn everywhere and people's homes were damaged."

The former Lord Mayor believes the city learnt a lot from the disastrous storms but nevertheless "emergency services did a fine job and we were able to do as much as we could to get things tidied up (that weekend) and that went on for the next several weeks of course".

Wallsend's town centre hasn't been the same since the 2007 storm, businesses were left damaged beyond repair and shop fronts have been left empty ever since.

Now a business owner in Cardiff, Max McCorkell says at the time if there was something substantial done by the council to bring the street back to life they would've stayed, but it wasn't the case.

"I'm afraid council were very lax in that regard, it was all pen on paper and word of mouth and that was it, there was no physical action taken by the council to remedy the problem."

Now the council are working towards raising all three bridges into the town centre and promoting ideas for better access via cycleways and pathways, but former business owners think it could still be too little, too late.

Batten down the hatches!

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It's about to get a whole lot colder in Newcastle but if you're in the Barrington Tops it's about to get freezing. 

Snow is predicted to fall on the Barrington Tops with an east coast low funnelling through the Hunter tonight bringing with it strong seas, cold wind and rain for most of the week.

Wind speeds will pick up tonight with cold temperatures, shower activity on the coastal fringe with some of the moisture landing on the high peaks of the Barrington Tops, big seas, and very cold wind chill factors which will combine to make the perfect conditions for snow on the high peaks.

"Well it looks like the east coast low will form, its going to hit us quite hard overnight and throughout tomorrow and then it looks like it's going to track north and its going to hug the northern NSW coast and that means we're going to be on the southern side of it and whenever you're on the southern side of a low that drives in those strong winds, the showers and the clouds," said NBN weather presenter Gavin Morris.

The first dusting of snow is being predicted for the Barrington Tops by tomorrow morning.

"Places along the coastal fringe exposed to those high wind areas, make sure you tie down everything including trampolines! Everybody forgets about them but they're usually the first to get lifted out of the backyard, check boats and moorings and all those sorts of things. Go and give them a check today to make sure they're all secure," said Gavin Morris.

Image journaltimes.com

Rain, rain go away, come again another day

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The Hunter is in for a change in weather this weekend with northeasterly winds forecast for this afternoon and a wet, wet weekend.

A slow moving rain band is making its way across the state and will bring with it a consistent dumping of rain which will be around for most of the weekend. It's not expected there'll be hundreds of millimetres of rain, but there'll be plenty of it and possibly thunderstorms.

"There's a big rain band moving in across the western part of the state and that is going to be moving through tonight and it's fairly slow moving so it's going to take most of Friday night into Saturday and probably affect the majority of Saturday as well so it's widespread in most locations right throughout the greater Hunter are going to see rain from this," said NBN Weather presenter Gavin Morris.

It'll be colder too, with a lack of sunshine, temperatures will fall into the low teens overnight and stay quite cool into next week.

"We've got a real lack of heating due to no sunshine. It's a big blanket of cloud. The winds are out of the north east and they're going to be getting moderately strong but generally, when you've got them out of the north it's not as cold, it's just due to the lack of heating as that rain band moves through," said Gavin Morris.

The rain couldn't have picked a worse weekend to come, with plenty of outdoor events planned for the weekend including the annual Lovedale Long Lunch in the Hunter Valley.

"There's a lot of outdoor activites that are on this weekend so if you've got one just be prepared for that rain. It's not one of those huge east coast lows and its not a massive weather event but it is going to be wet so the big tip is just be prepared for that wet weather," said Gavin Morris.

Motorists advised to be safe in Wild Weather

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

With four deaths on Hunter roads in the last 48 hours, motorists are being urged to take greater care when driving especially in the wet weather.

Forecasts for extreme wind and rain this weekend are a concern for Chief Inspector, Bruce McGreggor who says people need to be vigilant and stay safe on the roads.

"I'd just like people to drive to the conditions," he said.

"At the moment with the rain that's falling and the gloomy skies, certainly have your headlines on, reduce your speed to what you're comfortable with where you can stop quickly. Be courteous to other road users. Don't take unnecessary risks."

He says recent accidents on the road are very concerning.

"We have these unfortunate accidents that have been occurring where people are driving onto the wrong side of the road and colliding head on with other vehicles," he said.

"It appears that inattention is a factor there and people aren't driving with due space between vehicles to slow when required."

According to the Chief Inspector, the Hunter is leading the state in road fatalities for 2017.

"At the moment in northern region, we've had 24 deaths on the roads so far this year and that's far too many. We want to reduce it and I'm asking for assistance from the motoring public."

Motorists are advised to exercise more caution on the roads. Image: [https://madovermarketing.com/2016/07/31/chevrolet-is-creating-awareness-around-road-safety-in-the-most-innovative-way-ever-2/]

Hunter Breaks Rain Record

The Hunter is expected to have more rainfall for the rest of the week, following sunny skies for the Australia Day holiday.

Rainfall is expected to varied, with some parts expected to receive up to 60 millimeters of rainfall, while others may receive as low as 5.

Chris Webb from the Williamtown Weather Office says the showers will effect everyone.

"For the entire Hunter district tomorrow and Saturday, they'll be some showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon."

"At this range it's not possible to know where we'll get it, but we're confident there will be some about."

The upcoming rainfall will push this January into the wettest one in memory.

"We've got an old record of 404mm, 1895 it dates back to" says Mark Wilgard, Observations Officer at Williamtown Weather Office.

"As of yesterday, 9am we had 402.8mm, but since then we've got the 1.2mm."

"So the record's been equaled."

This weekends rain is being blamed on a low pressure trough which is moving itself across the Hunter.

"We think with the trough nearby there will be some showers and thunderstorms this evening" said Mr Webb.

"That trough will probably move across the Hunter on Saturday, causing more showers and thunderstorms."

The poor weather is expected to move on by Sunday.